| Botanical Name |
Poa pratensis |
| Common Name |
Kentucky bluegrass, Smooth meadow grass |
| Family |
Poaceae -– Grass |
| Description |
This naturalized perennial produces numerous, vigorous, creeping rhizomes. It’s a cool-season grass that has erect stems and slender, flat or folded blades. Poa pratensis is intolerant of drought. It is common throughout New Mexico and the United States. |
| Mature Size |
1’ – 3’ |
| Inflorescence |
Small, greenish flowers in the spring become open, spreading seed heads sometimes shaped like pyramids. The name bluegrass comes from its inflorescence which is often bluish when the plant is allowed to grow to its natural height of 3’. |
| Interesting Facts |
This native of Europe reaches its most luxuriant growth in the limestone regions of Kentucky, giving Kentucky the nickname, “The Bluegrass State." It’s responsible for many hay fever attacks. |
| Traditional and Medicinal Uses |
Poa pratensis is commonly cultivated for lawns and pastures. It is excellent livestock forage and also an important part of the diet of elk, deer and bighorn sheep. Seeds are eaten by numerous species of small mammals and songbirds. Its root system helps prevent erosion. |
